Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides
With some of the state’s largest population centers and easiest access by air, Central Florida is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts in the know.
Volusia County’s East Central Regional Rail Trail, or ECRRT, runs east towards the coast from Green Springs Park. This segment ended at Osteen when I biked it, but has been extended since.
Bounding the eastern side of Brevard County between Lake Poinsett and Lake Washington, River Lakes Conservation Area protects the St. Johns River floodplain while offering miles to roam
Where the Alafia River widens as it works it way towards Tampa Bay, Riverview was founded in 1856
With more than 12 miles of hiking through the heart of Florida black bear territory, the Rock Springs Run Hiking Trail gets you into the wild outside Orlando.
You have a better-than-average chance of spotting a Florida black bear at Rock Springs Run State Reserve, a vast wilderness area in the Wekiva River basin. This is the one park where we’ve seen the most evidence of our native Florida black bear.
Adjacent to the to the multi-use Upper Tampa Bay Trail, Rocky Creek Trails Nature Preserve offers a short hiking-only stroll through a surprisingly diverse plant community.
3.5 miles. Circling the largest prairie ecosystem on the Cross Florida Greenway, the Ross Prairie Loop showcases massive oaks and panoramic views
The Little Manatee River meets Tampa Bay at Ruskin, a farming community in southern Hillsborough County best known for its delicious tomatoes sold statewide
An urban park with camping east of downtown Lakeland, Saddle Creek Park has a 2.4 mile round-trip birding trail and a connector to Tenoroc
Circling the central pine flatwoods of the uplands between the lakes of Salt Lake WMA, the 4.1-mile Salt Lake Hiking Trail is a great birding destination
Spanning nearly 8,000 acres between Salt Lake, Lake Loughman, and South Lake, Salt Lake WMA is a popular birding and fishing destination with many miles of trails
A delightful immersion into the natural side of Merritt Island, the trails at Sams House at Pine Island range from mild to wild as they draw you deeper into coastal habitats along the Indian River Lagoon
